Originally Posted by
AlmostTrick
I always loved the “multiple hand positions” chant of the parishioners of the church of drop bars. Are drops really so uncomfortable that you need to keep moving your hands around to new positions just to avoid pain?
Basic hand position for drop handlebars is on the brake hoods and that's where most cyclists using them spend 90% of their time. The other positions mostly come into play with different riding conditions, such as using the flat part of the bar when going uphill or the drops when riding into a headwind.
Most of my mileage the last few years has been on a flat bar road bike with bar ends. I practically never use the ends, and would even take ‘em off if they were not integrated with the Ergon grips. It seems that when it is set up properly (for me), one position is all I need.
What mileage would that be, and how many miles in a typical ride?
And what does "set up properly" mean? If you had a drop bar, maybe you could set it up to be even more efficient, at the cost of having to change your hand position from time to time. Of course, you probably don't need to be more efficient, but that's why there are all the different handlebar designs.
For my personal needs and riding style, drop bar works best, and I don't ride a road bike. I simply prefer the palms inward position over the palms down one, and the ability to get down in the drops is just a bonus.